Montblanc International is a German manufacturing company of luxury goods, based in Hamburg. Founded in 1906 by the German engineer August Eberstein, Montblanc was originally a manufacturer of high-end writing instruments, although it's now equally well known for other luxury items. Named, "Montblanc" in 1910, the company would open a store in Hamburg nine years later dedicated to his new lines of wares. During the mid-1990s, Montblanc's product portfolio rapidly expanded. In addition to fine writing implements, Montblanc now also produced and sold leather goods such as handbags and belts, as well as necklaces, rings, cufflinks, and other fine jewelry. Sunglasses and perfume were quickly added to the roster too, and, since 1997, wristwatches. Even though Montblanc has only been making timepieces for a comparatively short time, their watches are masterpieces of traditional watchmaking, successfully demonstrating fine craftsmanship combined with a spirit of technical innovation. Every year the company produces around 70,000 watches, from their two factories in Le Locle and Villeret based in Switzerland. The company was acquired by Alfred Dunhill Ltd. in 1977 but is now part of the Swiss Richemont Group.